LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The home secretary criticised Labour’s claim that restrictions have not been relaxed as “appalling misinformation.”
The Labour and government have engaged in a bitter verbal battle over Britain’s treatment of migrants fleeing Ukraine’s conflict.
At a time when the country is under attack, Labour said that it was “immoral” of the government to refuse to relax visa requirements for individuals who are seeking asylum in the UK.
Priti Patel, the home secretary, retaliated and accused the opposition of “appalling misinformation” and claiming that the charges were “completely false.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged officials to take a “humanitarian attitude” to those “fleeing for their lives” during a visit to Birmingham.
The people of Ukraine must be assisted in their search for safety. This is where the government has gone wrong. They’re following the same regulations as previously, he explained.
“Ukraine is under fire,” said Yvette Cooper, shadow home secretary on Twitter. People are escaping the conflict. Despite this, the Home Office continues to apply standard visa limits, such as salary, language, and close relations. This is not only not solidarity with Ukraine, but it is also immoral.
“Appalling misinformation at a moment of international crisis,” Patel tweeted in response to assertions of the Labour. “This is simply untrue.”
According to a government spokeswoman, the focus is to assist British nationals and their dependents who are currently residing in Ukraine and want to leave.
“We are working around the clock to process visa applications and are processing many applications in a matter of hours,” a spokeswoman said. “The UK has various official paths open for Ukrainians who are not dependents of British nationals,” the Home Office added in a tweet.
Fees for those eligible for entry through the family path were temporarily waived, while those who did not fit the qualifications were granted entry for a period of 12 months.
While the main UK visa application centre in Kyiv has closed, a branch in Lviv has stayed open for British nationals’ family members in Ukraine.
